Techniques to Make Your Atomic Emission Demonstration Unforgettable: The Jacob’s Ladder Arc

Abstract

Two configurations of an electric arc were used to generate atomic emission using a Jacob’s ladder. The flameless emissions thus achieved were considerably more intense than that of a traditional flame coloration test, making it well-suited for demonstrations for large audiences. The first configuration employed an arc generated by a low current transformer that created a rising arc between two vertical conductors. The conductors were coated with selected salts or compounds in segments such that the rising arc changed color on ascent. The second configuration consisted of a similar Jacob’s ladder run at high current, and the arc was contained in a flask which enhanced and prolonged the emission accompanied by a deep reverberating humming sound which added an audio component which ordinary flame coloration experiments lack. The demonstration was well-suited for a variety of audiences, and since it combines the concept of atomic emission with those of transformers, Jacob’s ladders, electrical arcs, and plasma, the fourth state of matter, a profound multifaceted learning experience was achieved.